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 where it most narrowed&mdash;the pursuing stranger overtook the moodily-wandering countryman. He stopped him in his progress till he could come up with him by a friendly hail; and, freely approaching him, tendered him his open hand in a cordial salutation. The other grasped it with honest pleasure.

"Master Davis, for such I believe is your name," said the stranger, frankly, "I owe you many thanks for so readily, though I must say rashly, taking up my quarrel. I understand that your brush with that soldier-fellow was on my account; and though, like yourself, I need nobody to fight my battles, I must yet thank you for the good spirit which you have shewn in this matter."

"No thanks, stranger. I don't know what name to call you&mdash;"

"No matter; names are unnecessary, and the fewer known the better in these doubtful times. I care not to utter mine, though it has but little value. Call me what you please." The other looked surprised, but still satisfied, and replied after this fashion&mdash;

"Well, stranger, as I said, you owe me no thanks at all in this affair; for though I did take up the matter on your hook, it was because I had a little sort of hankering to take it up on my own. I have long had a grudge at that fellow, and I didn't care much on whose score it began, so it had a beginning."

"He has done you wrong?" half affirmatively, half inquiringly, said his companion.

"Reckon he has, squire, and no small wrong neither; but that's neither here nor there, seeing there's little help for it."

"How! no help for it! What may be the nature of this injury, for which a man with your limbs and spirit can find no help?"

The countryman looked at the speaker with a curious expression, in which a desire to confide, and a proper hesitancy in entrusting his secret thoughts to a stranger, were mingled equally. The other beheld the expression, and readily defining the difficulty, proceeded to remove it.

"This man has wronged you, friend Davis: you are his match&mdash;more than his match; you have better make and muscle, and manage your club quite as well as he his broadsword:&mdash;why should you not have justice, if you desire it?"

"If I desire it!" cried the other, and his black eye sparkled.